Anteaters Hoping Stafford Will Lead

It doesn’t take a genius to see how much better the UC Irvine women’s basketball team will become on Nov. 27. On that day, point guard Megan Stafford will return from her four-game suspension.

What the Anteaters will get back is more than just Stafford’s ability--she averaged 12 points and five assists last season. Coach Mark Adams hopes he gets back a leader.

Gone are forward Leticia Oseguera, a three-time All-Big West Conference selection, and guard Sabrina Roberson. They were the last remaining players from the Anteaters’ 1994-95 NCAA tournament team.

Stafford, a 5-foot-8 junior, will be ask to assume a lot more leadership.

“Megan and I have talked about being the quarterback out there,” said Adams, whose team was 16-12 a year ago. “She has done a lot of that since she was a freshman. Now it’s time for her to take over more.

“There was a little power struggle last year. We need to be led in the right direction.”

A good starting point would be for the leader not to be suspended.

But even that may work out to the Anteaters’ advantage. Stafford and junior center Chelsea Mackey were suspended for violating team rules. Mackey is already back after missing two.

Stafford has returned to practice and the level of play has picked up considerably. Without Stafford, the Anteaters had trouble just running their offense, let alone scoring out of it in a season-opening loss to San Diego.

“I always thought, on the court, I’ve been a leader,” Stafford said. “I’m not going to yell in anyone’s face. I call the plays and get everyone where they need to be. I guess the role gets stronger as the years go by. I think, when I come back, I should be able to take over like that.”

There is certainly no question about her play.

Stafford has been a quality player since she came to Irvine. She helped Irvine reach the Big West tournament title game as a freshman. And the reason why the Anteaters flopped in the tournament last season--they lost to Idaho in the first round--was because Stafford suffered a stress fracture in her left foot. She played little in the Idaho game.

She rested the foot during the summer, but also worked out.

“She put her arms up in practice the other day and it looked like Charles Atlas,” Adams said. “She has worked hard on her upper body strength.”

She wasn’t alone.

Mackey, guard and team captain Shannon Anders and forward Kirsten Cappel are all stronger this season. Those three and Stafford came in together as freshmen. All will be expected to produce more.

Mackey averaged eight points, Anders six and Cappel four last season.

“We’ve become upperclassmen and we should take on more roles,” Stafford said. “But you can’t forget about the seniors.”

Guards Nikole Payton, Princess Hatcher and forward Char-Pei Chen are all seniors. Payton will start with Anders and Stafford in the three-guard offense. Hatcher has filled in for Stafford. But Chen may be lost for the season because of a back injury, one of several early season injuries.

Forward Megan Nugent has been slowed by a knee injury. Forward Krissy Duperron is out for the season because of a knee injury. Those injuries, plus Mackey’s suspension, left them thin in the post and opened the door for Cindy Oparah, a 5-11 walk-on, and freshman Brandy Hudson.

“I think we’re expecting lot out of everybody” Mackey said. “I think we can be a force this year. It was disappointing how last season ended. We’re looking to extend our season this year.”

Of course, the season won’t really begin until Nov. 27.

Said Mackey: “When Megan has the ball in her hands, things just kind of work.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ROSTER

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No. Player os. Ht. Yr. 3 Jeanine Horton G 5-8 Jr. 4 Princess Hatcher G 5-8 Sr. 20 Missy Craine F 5-11 Fr. 21 Tamara Kataroyan G 5-10 So. 22 Shannon Anders G 5-8 Jr. 23 Yuriko Jung G 5-7 Sr. 24 Char-Pei Chen F 6-0 Sr. 32 Nikole Payton G 5-7 Sr. 34 Brandy Hudson F 6-1 Fr. 40 Krissy Duperron F 5-10 So. 43 Kirsten Cappel F 6-2 Jr. 44 Megan Stafford G 5-8 Jr. 50 Chelsea Mackey C 6-3 Jr.

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RETURNING LEADERS

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Scoring Stafford 12.2 Rebounding Mackey 5.1 Assists Stafford 4.9 Steals Hatcher 1.8 FG% Cappel 47.7 FT% Anders 85.0.

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SCHEDULE

Date: Opponent, Time

Nov. 14: at University of San Diego, 3 p.m.

Nov. 21: Syracuse, 7 p.m.

Nov. 24: West Virginia, 5:15 p.m.

Nov. 27: at Oregon State tournament

Nov. 28: at Oregon State tournament

Dec. 12: Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18: Arizona State, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20: at Pepperdine tournament

Dec. 21: at Pepperdine tournament

Dec. 28: Duquesne, 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 2: Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.

Jan. 8: at Nevada, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10: at New Mexico State, 2 p.m.

Jan. 15: Boise State, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17: Idaho, 2 p.m.

Jan. 22: at Pacific, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24: at Long beach state, 2 p.m.

Jan. 28: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5: at North Texas, 7 p.m.

Feb. 7: at Cal State Fullerton, 2 p.m.

Feb. 14: Cal State Fullerton, 2 p.m.

Feb. 19: Long Beach State, 7 p.m.

Feb. 21: Pacific, 2 p.m.

Feb. 25: at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.

Feb. 27: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2 p.m.

March 4-7: Big West tournament